Friday, February 24, 2012

#5
DUKE 74, #15 FLORIDA STATE 66 -- Andre
Dawkins scored 22 points and freshman Austin
Rivers added 20 to lead the Blue Devils to a victory over Florida
State 33 days after being upset by the Seminoles on their own court.

The
win kept the Blue Devils (24-4, 11-2) tied with No. 7 North Carolina for first
place in the ACC while Florida State (19-8, 10-3) dropped a game behind.
The Blue Devils and Tar Heels now control their own destiny -- if either win
out (including the season ending rematch in Durham), they will be the regular
season champion and well positioned for a high seed in the NCAA
tournament.

Duke
showed once again that when they make threes they are hard to beat. The
Blue Devils made 13 of 28 from behind the arc outscoring the Seminoles on three
pointers by a margin of 39 to 12. The Noles were 4 for 12 from
treyville.

Game
over.

While
Florida State is one game shy of a 20-win season, they are far from polished.
Last night they failed over and over to take advantage of opportunities that
could have made this a closer game or even a win in spite of Duke’s superior
three-point shooting. FSU missed free throws, blew fast break
opportunities and took woeful outside shots when they should have pounded the
ball inside where both Plumlees were in foul trouble.

Seminole
coach Leonard Hamilton was visibly frustrated at times...

(Phil Sears/AP Photo)

Dawkins
scored 18 points over the last 11:23 of the first half, going 5 of 7 from
3-point range as Duke took a 39-32 lead. Ryan Kelly
added 13 points and Miles
Plumlee had 10 for Duke, which shot 42.3 percent from the field.

"We
allowed them to do what they do best and knock down 3s," Florida State
coach Leonard Hamilton said. "It was very difficult for us to get over the
hump."

Michael
Snaer had 18 points for the Seminoles, while Bernard
James added 13 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots. Snaer, whose
first of two buzzer-beating game-winning 3-pointers this season ended Duke's
45-game home winning streak last month, sat out the last 9:49 of the first half
after drawing his second personal foul.

The
Seminoles, who have never won an ACC title, beat Duke and North Carolina in
January, but they never got a shot at any last-second heroics Thursday although
they got within three points twice, the last at 61-58 with 4:17 left on a
three-point play by James.

ESPN
is now the clear front-runner for the T.A.H. Duke Lacrosse Fire, Ready Aim
Award given annually to an organization or person who rushes to action in order
to fend off public criticism. You may recall that officials at Duke bowed
to various groups and dismissed their LAX coach almost immediately after
Strippergate based on allegations that would later prove to be false.

Now
ESPN seems to have rushed to judgment and unfairly fired Anthony Federico for
his much talked about “Chink In The Armor” headline regarding New York Knick
Jeremy Lin’s nine turnovers in a recent loss to the Hornets.

TIME
OUT: Here’s what we’ve learned in the blogshpere. People read the
headline and a few words and then form an opinion prior to leaving comments
over at reprint sites like Yardbarker and Bleacher Report impugning the
writer’s character without actually reading the article or endeavoring to
understand the point of said dissertation. Seriously, that’s what happens…

With
that as preface, we will state the CONCLUSION of this editorial upfront:
ESPN “unfairly” fired Federico based on the simple fact that they didn’t fire
their anchor that said the same thing.

(Al Diaz/AP Photo)

We
aren’t condoning what Frederico wrote or what ESPN anchor Max Breto (and Knicks
play-by-play guy Speros Dedos) said. We aren’t trying to justify it, we
are simply saying that a mistake was made and the punishment should be
consistent and that “intent” should certainly be part of the equation.
What is good for the editor’s goose should be good for the anchor’s gander.

That
said, there are people who think that ESPN should have fired Federico. We are
not those people. The firing seems a bit over the top especially when
compared to the penalties given other members of the media who made the same
mistake on the same night. In each case, the offensive language appears
to have been an honest, albeit stupid, mistake.

We
say get all three some sensitivity training so he doesn’t do it again, and move
on. ESPN suspended for 30 days the anchor who used a similar (if not the
same line), but fired Federico. That simply Doesn’t fly here.
Neither should have been fired unless they used the term purposefully as a
racial slur and it would seem that neither did for a variety of obvious reasons
(like not wanting to get fired!).

California
Congresswoman Judy CHu called the headline “appalling and offensive” and said,
“The ‘c’ word is for Asian- Americans like the 'n' word is for
African-Americans.”

No
one would argue her point, and it’s hard to find a similar example. Joe
Eskenazi of the San Francisco Weekly, did make this comparison:

“...It's
a lot easier to imagine a late-shift editor inadvertently writing a racially
charged headline at 2:30 a.m. than carefully plotting out surefire career
suicide. In that manner, l'affaire d' Chink in the Armor harks to the 1999
Niggardly Incident.

(Andrew Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

You
may recall that one. A bit over a decade ago, David Howard -- an overly erudite
aide to Washington, D.C. mayor Anthony Williams -- used the term
"niggardly" during a public meeting when discussing a fund's meager
budget.

This
was, technically, apropos: "Niggardly"
essentially means "stingy." But for Howard, who is white, to use this
term in mixed company was unwise and unnecessary. He should have just said
"stingy."

Howard
resigned, and Williams -- under heavy political pressure -- accepted his
resignation. However, in a rare instance of everything really working out in
the end, the media and general public overreacted to this overreaction, and
Williams was successfully
pressured to hire Howard back.”

So much for the history lesson.

A few days ago, when
Congresswoman Chu learned that Frederico admitted he had used the line in at
least 100 headlines, she said:

“If
he was using it all those times, that is extremely sad. The word was used since
the 1880s to demean Chinese Americans and to deprive them of rights, and it is
used on playgrounds specifically to humiliate and to offend Asian-Americans. So
I don’t know where he's been all this time.”

Well,
we are guessing the 28-year-old Frederico’s been in a world where he doesn’t
have any prejudice against Asian-Americans and where he only ever used the word
“chink” in close proximity to the word “armor.” We would make the same
claim. We haven’t heard “chink” as a derogatory term since the 1970‘s,
but we live in the Mid-Atlantic -- not the Northeast or on the West
Coast. Note that even Chu said the word “was” used, not “is” used.

Some
words simply go away over time with “niggardly” being a prime example.
Looks like “chink” is about to be retired as well, and we aren’t saying that’s
a bad thing, just pointing out how the language changes based on current social
norms and prevailing moral standards.

Back
to the main point, the firing of Frederico. When the New York Post makes
sense, you know the world is going mad(der). They pointed out, among
other things, that Federico, Bretos and Dedos all used the same term the SAME
NIGHT which demonstrated, among some more things, how overused the term is by
sport’s media. Not to mention the good journalism point that the NYP makes: “Chink in the armor’
is just one of a million clichés you should avoid for no other reason than that
they’re clichés.”

(Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated)

In
retrospect, it was a poor choice of words and everybody who used the phrase
should take note and edit accordingly. As several have pointed out, it’s
like saying “bomb” in an airport. In this day and age, you simply don’t do
that.

All of them should have connected the dots. They didn’t. They effed
up. They all apologized. One was fired, one was suspended and one was
scolded. That doesn’t add up.

If
he’s telling the truth, and we assume he is, over in the plus column he lists
1) befriending and rescuing a homeless guy; 2) working in a orphanage in Haiti;
3) adopting an Alzheimer’s patient and 4) conducting a fundraiser for a buddies
premature children among other Boy Scout-worthy deeds.

So,
he’s not a bad guy…

In
addition, Lin didn’t seem terribly upset about the poor choice of words either
saying “I don't think it was on purpose or whatever, but they have apologized
and so from my end I don't care anymore,”

Mistakes
were made. Good people were offended. ESPN over-reacted. End of
story.

A player on the West tam gives a young fan an autographed basketball before the NWBA All-Star Wheelchiar Classic during the NBA All-Star Weekend.(Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images)

President and CEO of Nike, Inc. Mark Parker speaks as Nike introduces new basketball and training technology at Basketball City, Pier 36 on February 22, 2012 in New York City. (Mike Lawrie/Getty Images North America)

The Oracle Racing AC45 catamarans practice near the Golden Gate Bridge on February 21, 2012 in San Francisco, California. The AC45 is the forerunner to the AC72, which teams will race in the Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup finals in 2013 in San Francisco. The AC45 will be featured at the America's Cup World Series. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)

Forgive Jack Blankenship if he’s starting to get a big head.With appearances this week on the “Today” show and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” the 19-year-old University of Alabama freshman has gone from Internet sensation to, well, just plain old sensation. His claim to fame? He wields an oversized cutout of his head at Crimson Tide basketball games, capturing attention far beyond that of the targeted opposing team’s shooters. (The Daily/iPad)

While going about its routine daily research so we may
constantly bring you, our loyal readers, the most up-to-date and interesting
stories regarding ACC sports, the world renown T.A.H. Worldwide Media Research
Team discovered the item pictured at right in the garage at T.A.H. Worldwide
Media Headquarters.

It never seemed to be a question of guilty or innocent in the murder trial of former Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V who was accused of murdering Yeardley Love, it was simply matter of what charge the jury would eventually find him guilty.

Yesterday, a jury found Huguely guilty of second degree murder and then recommended 26 years in prison for the beating death of “his former girlfriend amid a swirl of betrayal, distrust, anger and a culture of drinking.”

According to the AP, the prosecutor who meticulously and methodically constructed the case spoke glumly late Wednesday about a trial that put on display a much-diminished athlete and the horrific injuries he inflicted upon the young woman he professed to love. It played out before two families shattered by the experience.

Jurors deliberated about nine hours before returning a verdict on the murder count, then recommended that Huguely serve 25 years. The maximum prison term for second-degree murder is 40 years. He also was found guilty of grand larceny, with the jury recommending one year in prison.

Circuit Judge Edward Hogshire set an April court date for sentencing matters before formal sentencing, expected to be held in summer. He is not bound by the jury’s recommendations, but Virginia judges typically heed jurors’ wishes.

LOVE

The defense did not present any witnesses at the sentencing hearing. Members of the Huguely family declined to speak as they left the courthouse.

The jury of seven men and five women considered testimony from nearly 60 witnesses over nine days.

They had to decide whether Huguely battered Love to death in a jealous outburst or if his intent to talk with her spiraled out of control and she died accidentally. They also suggested her own drinking and a prescription drug used for attention deficit disorder could have contributed to her death.

Huguely killed Love, a U.Va. women’s lacrosse player from suburban Baltimore, after a day of golf and binge drinking, incensed that she had had a relationship with a North Carolina lacrosse player, the prosecution said. Love’s right eye was bashed in and she was hit with such power that her brain was bruised. She also had wrenching head injury that caused bleeding at the base of her brain stem.

A coroner concluded she died of blunt force trauma. Defense and prosecution experts offered different medical opinions on the lethal consequences of her injuries.

Jurors heard testimony from lacrosse players who told of Huguely’s escalating drinking problem and public spats between the two. The incidents included Huguely putting Love in a chokehold while on his bed, and one in which Love accused him of flirting with two high school girls.

Friends and fellow players said the two were unfaithful to each other and had a fiery relationship.

In closing arguments that left some shaking their heads, Huguely’s attorney described him as a hulking, hard-drinking jock but no killer. He acknowledged Huguely had an unintended, accidental role in Love’s death, arguing for a finding of involuntary manslaughter and a 10-year prison term.

He suggested their behavior was the norm in the “lacrosse ghetto” at U.Va.

Love’s death will have a lasting effect in Virginia.

Last year, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law that expanded criteria under which people can seek protective orders. The measure allows people in dating relationships or those who face threatening co-workers to more easily obtain such an order.

Syracuse was the latest to don the horrific grey home unis in their win over South Florida last night.

Here, Dion Waiters takes it to the hoop, scores and is fouled by the Bull’s Toarlyn Fitzpatrick with under 40 seconds to go in the first half. He completed the free throw to put the Orange up 24-20, completing a 17-0 run.

Tina Maze of Slovenia competes during the first training of the Fis Alpine Ski World Cup women's Downhill in Bansko on February 23, 2012. (Samuel Kubani/AFP PHOTO)

Mercedes Petronas F1 team German Michael Schumacher drives on February 23, 2012 at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona during the Formula One test days . (Photo by Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia serves to Australian opponent Samantha Stosur during their Dubai WTA Championship tennis match in the Gulf emirate on February 23, 2012. (Photo by Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images)

Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers leans in for a dunk during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on February 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won 103-95. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Tiger Woods scored a come-from-behind victory over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in the opening round of the Accenture Match Play Championship at the The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana, Arizona. Here he hits his second shot left-handed a pretty sure sign things weren’t going all that well. (Matt Sullivan/Reuters)

A pack of cars drives through turn 4 during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

#7 NORTH CAROLINA 68, N.C. STATE 74 -- Like a blast from the past, N.C. State celebrated their 1988-89 team (even the two guys, Tom Gugliotta and Chris Corchiani, who were tossed out of the RBC Center by veteran ACC ref Karl Hess on Saturday) while North Carolina fans were reminded that it was the late-developing three point-shooting of point guard Ty Lawson that turned the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Division 1 National Champions from very good to unbeatable...

Current Tar Heel point guard Kendall Marshall had a career-high 22 points and 13 assists combined with ZERO turnovers as UNC posted one of their most impressive wins of the year. Marshall made seven of his eight shots including four out of five from behind the three-point line.

The Heels came out blazing, making three-pointers as if Wayne Ellington and Danny Green and snuck in the gym and dressed as Reggie Bullock and Harrison Barnes. In a furiously paced 46-41 first half, North Carolina was 7-14 from behind the arc.

BARNES (Gerry Broome/AP Photo)

The Wolfpack survived the initial onslaught (an early 19-5 North Carolina lead) closing the gap to five points at halftime, but it seemed unlikely they could stand the typical Roy Williams’ coached-team’s torrid pace.

Harrison Barnes added 20 points for the Tar Heels (24-4, 11-2 ACC), who extended their domination of their nearby rivals. North Carolina has won 12 straight meetings and hasn't lost to the Wolfpack (18-10, 7-6) in five years.

For the game, the Tar Heels shot 51 percent, including 10 for 19 from three-point range. N.C. State stayed even with UNC on rebounds (40-40), but only shot 41.7% for the game making just 3 of 9 three-pointers.

HUDSON and ZIBLINSKI (Don Petersen/AP Photo)

#25 VIRGINIA 61, VIRGINIA TECH 59 -- With the score 47-39 it lookied like the Hokies had their in-state rivals number and were headed for a sweep of the series. But, Virginia outscored Virginia Tech 17-1 during a crucial second half stint as the Cavs (21-6, 8-5 ACC) rallied for the win.

Mike Scott scored 20 points and Sammy Zeglinski had 13, all in the second half.

For the second game in a row, the Wahoos, with the Hokies’ help, held an opponent scoreless for more than eight minutes in the second half to rally. They did it to Maryland for 8:18 on Saturday, and to VT for 8:25 - starting at the 13-minute mark last night.

Virginia Tech (15-13, 4-9), which came in having played three consecutive games decided by a point, led 49-44 after Erick Green's floater with 13 minutes to play. When Robert Brown finally broke the drought with two free throws with 4:35 left, the Cavaliers had built a 56-51 lead.

CLEMSON 56, GEORGIA TECH 37 -- Shades of the Big East as the Jackets muster a mere 37 points...the fewest allowed by a Clemson team in an ACC regular season game.

ANDRE YOUNG (John Bazemore/AP Photo)

The win improved Clemson's record to 14-13 on the season, 6-7 in the ACC. With the loss, Tech dropped to 9-18, 2-11 in conference play. Did we hear yawning?

Clemson was led in scoring by junior forward Milton Jennings, who produced 13 of his 15 points in the first 20 minutes of play. Jennings made 6-of-11 shots, including 2-of-5 from three.

Tanner Smith scored eight and added six rebounds and six assists. The Yellow Jackets were led by Kammeon Holsey's 12 points and 11 from guard Brandon Reed.

Georgia Tech jumped in front 4-3 after a media timeout, but the Tigers responded with a 12-3 run. Clemson got threes from Young and Jennings during the run. Tech pulled to within three at 16-13, but a miss on a jumper and long rebound to Smith led to a break where he found freshman Bernard Sullivan inside for a layup.

Game over.

PADGETT (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

MARYLAND 75, MIAMI 70 -- Speaking of scoring droughts, the Canes when without a basket for over nine-minutes losing two five point leads and eventually the game. After shaking of the first scoring drought, Miami only scored four points in the final 2:04 losing a 66-61 lead.

James Padgett scored 16 points, including a pivotal three-point play in the final minute.

Maryland (16-11, 6-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed 66-61 before rallying with a 10-0 run during the final two minutes. A 3-point shot by Sean Mosley and a three-point play by Padgett preceded two three throws by Mosley and two more by Terrell Stoglin.

Paula Creamer of the U.S. doesn’t watch as her caddie Colin Cann hits the ever-popular exploding golf ball during the pro-am prior to the start of the HSBC Women’s Champions at Tahah Mera Country Club in Singapore. The prankster was caned. (Just kidding.)

(Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe)

Here, Michelle Wie of the USA, Suzann Pettersen of Norway, Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Karrie Webb of Australia pose during a photocall at the Singapore Botanic Gardens prior to the start of the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore.

OK, let's get some of the very best women pro golfers together and have them touch our flowers...Really?

The ACC LAX season is underway and the four ACC teams are off to a good start. UNC is 3-0, UVA is 2-0, Maryland is 1-0 and Duke is 1-1. All are nationally ranked: UVA #1, UNC #5, MD #7 and Duke #8.

T.A.H. will be keeping a close eye on the Terps as sophomore Rustin Bryant looks to make a mark. Bryant is the nephew of T.A.H. founding members Kendal Bryant Blaser and Tom Blaser of the famous Brentsville (Terps Now Tigers) Blasers who are one-down and one-to-go with sons at Clemson.

Prior to the boys heading off to the Palmetto State, they bled College Park red. What a difference writing those big checks will make! All Tiger allegiance aside, the Blazes will always have a soft spot for the Terps and Bryant will keep those fires stoked.

The sophomore two-time US Lacrosse High School All-American and 2010 Under Armour High School All-American attack scored his first goal against Hartford in Mayland’s season opener a 12-6 win over Harford.

“If we had lost this game by one, I would have been really, really disappointed, but I would have been really proud of my team. Our guys played as a team. We made the plays. We stepped up and made free throws. It was a great win for us. I know the Notre Dame game looks better, but under that circumstance and this circumstance, it’s just a great win for our team.”

UNC's John Henson (31) looks for the rebound as UNC's James Michael McAdoo (43), left, and N.C. State's DeShawn Painter (0) look on in the first half.

(Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

N.C. State Athletic Director Debbie Yow, along with Chris Corchiani, center, and Rodney Monroe, right, members of the 1989 N.C. State Wolfpack basketball team, hold up the Wolfpack Unlimited award during a presentation before N.C. State's game against North Carolina Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Tom Gugliotta, right, and other members of the 1989 N.C. State Wolfpack basketball team were honored during a presentation before N.C. State's game against North Carolina. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

Australian motocross rider and member of the Crusty Demons, Robbie Marshall jumps over a helicopter with rotating blades and a Formula 1 car at Avalon Airport in Melbourne. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes, who helped bring the
Tar Heels back from a nine-point second-half deficit to win at Miami, is the
ACC’s Player of the Week, and Boston College forward Ryan Anderson, who
averaged 21.5 points in the Eagles’ two contests, is the conference’s Rookie of
the Week for the period ending Feb. 19.

Barnes, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Ames, Iowa, scored 14 of
his 23 points at Miami after halftime as the Tar Heels rallied for a 73-64
victory over the Hurricanes this past Wednesday. He added 24 points, seven
rebounds, two assists and two steals in UNC’s 74-52 triumph over Clemson three
days later. On the season,

Barnes stands second in the ACC in scoring at 18
points per game and sixth in field-goal percentage (.470).

The 2011 ACC Rookie of the Year is the second Tar Heel in as
many weeks to be named Player of the Week. He was preceded by senior center
Tyler Zeller.

Anderson, a 6-8 freshman forward from Lakewood, Calif., went
15-of-28 from the floor and 11-of-14 at the foul line and contributed 18
rebounds in the Eagles’ games with Maryland and Duke. He leads all ACC freshmen
in rebounding (7.0) and is second in scoring (10.8).

Anderson is the third Boston College player named Rookie of
the Week this season. He joins guard Lonnie Jackson (Dec. 19) and center Dennis
Clifford (Jan. 16). Only once in the award’s 42-year history has a team had
more than three individuals chosen: Four Wake Forest rookies were tapped in
1978-79.

Sylvain Guintoli of France races down the tack during the 2012 Superbike FIM World Championship test day at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Pedro Sanchez, a dwarf bullfighter dressed in a Superman costume, flips near a calf at the Plaza de Toros La Macarena in Medellin, Colombia. Unlike full-size bullfighting, the calves are not injured in this version of the event. (Photo by Albeiro Lopera/Reuters)

UCLA Bruins forward Rhema Gardner wears Adidas pink breast cancer awareness month shoes during their game against USC at the Galen Center in L.A. (Photo by Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire)

Jockeys and horses compete during the 73rd Gubelin Grand
Prix of St. Mortiz on the frozen Lake of the White Turf in St. Mortiz. (Photo by Imago/Zumapress.com)

Monday, February 20, 2012

To celebrate President's Day, mascots dressed as US
Presidents compete in a race between periods of the game between the New York
Islanders and the Ottawa Senators at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on
February 20, 2012 in Uniondale, New York. The Senators defeated the Islanders
6-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

#5 DUKE 75, BOSTON COLLEGE 50 – This time there was no
come-from-behind dama as the the Blue Devils, coming off consecutive wins with
late rallies, held Boston College to their lowest point total this season .

Duke changed its approach after falling behind 13-7 as BC
made its first five shots. It hit just 10 of 39 the rest of the way.

"We didn't give up threes," Duke coach Mike
Krzyzewski said. "It's just an unconventional offense for us to defend,
and to hold them to the 50 points, we were pleased. And we didn't give up many
second shots."

BC managed just two offensive rebounds and was beaten 45-21
off the boards. The Blue Devils were never in danger of falling into a third
straight huge deficit.

They had come from 20 points behind in the final 11½ minutes
to beat North Carolina State 78-73 on Thursday night. Eight days earlier, they
had rallied from 10 points down with 2½ minutes left to beat North Carolina
85-84.

But against BC, Duke went ahead for good on a layup by
Rivers midway through the first half, 15-13, led 30-21 at intermission and
stretched that to 28 points midway through the second half.

Duke (23-4, 10-2 ACC) pulled into a tie for the league lead
with North Carolina and Florida State with its fourth straight win after a
78-74 overtime loss to Miami. But Krzyzewski doesn't think his team is playing
as well as a Top 5 team should, especially after committing 18 turnovers against
BC.

Boston College (8-19, 3-10) was led by Ryan Anderson with 21
points and eight rebounds. The freshman had a season-high 22 in BC's last game,
an 81-65 loss at Maryland. Matt Humphrey added 12 points as BC lost for the
ninth time in 10 games and is 1-10 against Duke since joining the ACC.

Duke's defense was so effective that the Eagles went without
a basket for more than 14 minutes after taking the 13-7 lead on a 3-pointer by
Anderson with 16:34 left in the first half. They didn't get another field goal
until a 3 by Humphrey cut the lead to 25-19 with 2:21 to play before the break.

Everybody got their knickers all in a kink a while back
when Roy Williams had an Presbyterian fan removed from an area reserved at the
Dean Dome for family and close friends of the Tar Heels…So, what are folks
saying about two former Wolfpack stars getting tossed out of the RBC center on
Saturday.

There blaming the ref, that’s what they are saying…

Former N.C. State stalwarts Chris Corchiani and Tom
Gugliotta will be back at the RBC Center on Tuesday as honored guests of N.C.
State and, hopefully, Karl Hess, the official who ousted them on Saturay, won't be in the building.

Yes, the school will honor the 1988-89 N.C. State men's
basketball team, which won the ACC regular-season title, at Tuesday's home game
against North Carolina in spite of the fact that two of the biggest stars were
removed from the arena by referee Karl Hess during Saturday’s loss to Florida
State.

Corchiani and Gugliotta both were members of coach Jim
Valvano's penultimate team, which went 10-4 in the ACC and advanced to the
Round of 16 in the NCAA tournament before losing to Georgetown.

With 6 minutes, 40 seconds left in the game, Hess ejected
Corchiani and Gugliotta, who were sitting behind the scorers' table. Corchiani
said he and Gugliotta were complaining about the officiating, and protesting
some calls, but did not threaten or use profanity with Hess.

Hess declined to provide a reason why he ejected the former
players. The ACC also has refused to offer an explanation, although it did
acknowledge Hess did not follow NCAA protocol.

N.C. State athletic director Debbie Yow said the 1988-89
team, the last N.C. State men's basketball team to win an ACC title, will
receive the "Wolfpack Unlimited" award for their "refusal to
accept the status quo."

(To read more from a couple of ACC vets at the News &
Observer click
here and here.)

“I don't think we
feel any pressure. No one has acted like they felt any pressure. We are not
caught up in maybe our location is an advantage in some ways, because we are
not caught up in the media frenzy of all what goes on in that region between
Clemson and Maryland and Virginia and the four schools in North Carolina. We
are not really caught up in the day to day excitement that goes on in that
area. So a lot of the things that maybe might be cause them to feel pressure,
we are not exposed to. But we are struggling along, just trying to win games. I
have not seen any signs that any of our kids feel any unnecessary pressure. I
think we make some mistake, like all teams do, and maybe we might make some
poor decisions here and there, but I haven't seen any signs of our players
acting like they feel any unnecessary pressure.”

– Florida State head
coach Leonard Hamilton on whether his team is feeling any more pressure as a
ranked team tied for first in the ACC.

WHERE IN THE WORLD...?

The way it is...

The way it was...

TAH DAMN GOOD CAUSE OF THE MONTH

NORTHERN HAITI HOPE FOUNDATION: After our recent trip to Haiti, we vowed to do more to help. Clean water is a critical issue for all Haitians. It's particularly problematic for those in rural areas. For $2,000 to $5,000 we can build a new well in a rural village as part of a program facilitated by the St. Barthelemy School and the Warrenton, VA Rotary. Send your donation to Wells of Health and Hope, c/o GPetty-VTA, 38 Garrett Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 and keep your eye on T.A.H. for progress reports. Thanks! CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR MORE INFO.